Author: Alex Thompson

Meth Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, and Detox Treatment for Meth Addiction

These feelings, called withdrawal, can last from several days to a few weeks. When people take meth frequently or in high doses, it can eventually lead to a substance use disorder. Meth addiction can induce symptoms of withdrawal, a set of health problems that can linger for days. Work with a medical professional to diagnose your level of dependency to methamphetamine and create a safe treatment plan that works for you.

1. Methamphetamine withdrawal is a slow, difficult, but enormously valuable process that may last several days or weeks.
2. They’ll also make sure it won’t interact with any other medications you take.
3. Withdrawal symptoms can begin within 24 hours after last using methamphetamine and last around 14 to 20 days.
4. If a person uses it more than once or twice, they have a high chance of developing an addiction.

While symptoms tend to steadily improve in 1 or 2 weeks, sleep issues may actually worsen after improving within the first week. Bednarczyk said avoiding withdrawal is “part of the reinforcement for addictive behavior.” Using meth makes people addicted to the drug feel better. Once tolerance develops, people need to take higher doses of the drug to achieve the desired effects. They may start smoking or injecting meth to experience a stronger, more immediate high.

The authors of the review could not find any studies investigating nonpharmacological approaches to managing methamphetamine detox. If someone stops using methamphetamine, the brain must quickly adapt to this change. This kick-starts various processes that function to bring the brain chemistry closer to what it was before a person began taking methamphetamine.

Should you seek professional care?

They can be intense, lasting for days and, in some cases, weeks. Many factors determine the length of withdrawal symptoms, including the amount of time the person has been addicted. Methamphetamine addiction can lead to painful withdrawal symptoms. Although most effects of withdrawal subside within about a week, some symptoms can persist for several weeks. Rehab centers can assist individuals in safely detoxing from meth abuse. Many patients who arrive at the detox center are experiencing the peak of their withdrawal symptoms.

Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. Some people who use methamphetamine undergo the detox process at home. If the home environment is a triggering space, particularly one in which meth was or is highly prevalent, it is not advisable to attempt detox at home. It is also not advisable to try home detox if you have a dual diagnosis or co-occurring mental condition.

The Crash: One to Two Days

A 2005 study published in the journal Addiction indicated that amphetamine users can experience depression about seven to 10 days into withdrawal. Symptoms of depression may continue into the second and third weeks of withdrawal, but they usually end within the first two weeks. Withdrawal from methamphetamine occurs when a regular meth user suddenly stops taking the substance. When this happens, the person may experience a range of distressing physical and psychological health problems.

The next step is a clinical assessment, in which the person and healthcare professionals discuss treatment options. As the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains, methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant. When people who regularly take methamphetamine stop using it, withdrawal symptoms can occur. When it comes to using medication to manage withdrawal symptoms, receiving a prescription is best. Your prescriber can determine the best option for your symptoms.

When you stop using meth, though, your brain is left without enough dopamine or serotonin, causing withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms fade as your brain replenishes its store of dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine and serotonin are two chemical messengers called neurotransmitters that can affect a range of things, including your mood, sleep cycle, and digestive process. Meth causes your brain to release its stores of both these neurotransmitters, contributing to meth’s pleasurable effects. Over time, repetitive meth abuse can cause a person’s mind and body to deteriorate.

If you or a loved one are seeking help for addiction, our network of addiction facilities are ready to welcome you.

Methamphetamine (also known as “crystal meth”) is an extremely addictive drug. If a person uses it more than once or twice, they have a high chance of developing an addiction. Once a person becomes dependent, the body will go into withdrawal if they try to quit. Meth withdrawal symptoms may manifest during or after detox, which is the process of the body metabolizing and removing it.

The first stage of rehabilitation is an evaluation by trained clinical staff. If the patient is still acutely intoxicated, they will undergo detoxification. This process may serve as a personal milestone for those who complete the experience. After some time, a patient’s body will stabilize, and they can move on to the next stage of rehabilitation.

In the United States, there are many treatment facilities for substance use disorders. A person ready to stop methamphetamine use can search for local facilities at FindTreatment.gov. According to a 2022 review, withdrawal symptoms occur when the body tries to re-adapt to a decrease in drug usage. These are usually present before a person stops using methamphetamine.

To understand the importance of detox, it is important to understand the relationship between dependence and withdrawal and this relates to detox. In other words, a person feels like they need this drug to feel and function normally. With significant levels of physiological dependence, a person may continue to compulsively drink or use drugs to avoid unwanted withdrawal symptoms. Methamphetamine is a powerful and dangerous stimulant that can cause dependency after just one use. Withdrawal symptoms, including extreme cravings and feelings of depression, can be emotionally and physically intense and even lead to fatalities if not properly treated. Whether you have only recently started using or you have used methamphetamine over many years, recovery is possible.

Some of the most common symptoms are fatigue, depression, anxiety and increased appetite. These are all signs that the body is ridding itself of the methamphetamine, flushing out the toxin and returning to a state of health. Withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable even if a person has only used meth for a short time.